Bible: 2 Samuel 13-15

The Rape of Tamar

13:1Now David’ssonAbsalomhad a beautifulsisternamedTamar. In the course of time David’ssonAmnonfell madly in lovewith her.113:2But Amnonbecame frustratedbecause he was so lovesick2over his sisterTamar. Forshe was a virgin, and to Amnonit seemedout of the questionto doanythingto her.

13:6So Amnonlaydown and pretended to be sick. When the kingcamein to seehim, Amnonsaidtothe king, “Pleaselet mysisterTamarcomein soshe can make a coupleof cakesin my sight. Then Iwill eat from herhand.”

13:10Then Amnonsaidto Tamar, “Bringthe cakesinto the bedroom; then I will eatfrom your hand.” So Tamartookthe cakesthatshe had preparedand broughtthem to her brotherAmnonin the bedroom.13:11As she broughtthem tohim to eat, he grabbedher and saidto her, “Comeon! Get in bedwithme,10 my sister!”

13:16But she saidto him, “NoI won’t, for sendingme awaynow would be worsethan what you didto me earlier!”17 But he refusedto listento her.13:17He calledhis personalattendantand saidto him, “Takethiswoman outof my sight18 and lockthe doorbehindher!”13:18(Now she was wearing a longrobe,19forthisis what the king’svirgindaughtersused to wear.) So Amnon’s20 attendantremovedher and boltedthe door21behindher.13:19ThenTamarput ashesonher headand torethe longrobeshe was wearing. She puther handsonher headand wenton her way, wailingas she went.

13:34In the meantime Absalomfled. When the servantwho was the watchmanlooked up, he sawmanypeoplecomingfrom the west35 on a roadbesidethe hill.13:35Jonadabsaidtothe king, “Look! The king’ssonshave come! It’s justas Isaid!”

14:4So the Tekoanwomanwent45 tothe king. She bowed downwith her faceto the groundin deferenceto himand said, “Please helpme,46 O king!”14:5The kingrepliedto her, “Whatdo you want?”47 She answered, “I ama widow; my husbandis dead.14:6Your servant48has twosons. When the twoof them got into a fightin the field, there was noone present who could intervene. Oneof them struckthe otherand killedhim.14:7Nowthe entirefamilyhas risen upagainstyour servant, saying, ‘Turn overtheone who struck downhis brother, so that we can executehim and avenge the death49 of his brotherwhomhe killed. In so doing we will alsodestroytheheir.’ They want to extinguishmy remainingcoal,50leavingno oneonthe faceof the earthto carryon the nameof my husband.”

14:23So Joabgot upand wentto Geshurand broughtAbsalomback to Jerusalem.6814:24But the kingsaid, “Let him go over69tohis own house. He may notseemy face.” So Absalomwent over70tohis own house; he did notseethe king’sface.

14:25Now in allIsraeleveryone acknowledgedthat there wasnomanas handsomeas Absalom.71From the soleof his feettothe top ofhis headhe wasperfectin appearance.7214:26When he would shavehis head– at the endof every yearhe used to shavehis head, forit grew too long73and he would shave it – he used to weigh the hair of his head at three pounds74 according to the king’s weight.14:27Absalomhad75threesonsand onedaughter, whose namewas Tamar. Shewasa very attractivewoman.76

14:28Absalomlivedin Jerusalemfor two yearswithoutseeingthe king’sface.14:29Then Absalomsenta message toJoabasking him tosendhim tothe king, but Joab was notwillingto cometohim. So he senta secondmessage to him, but he stillwas notwillingto come.14:30So he saidtohis servants, “Look, Joabhas a portionof field adjacentto mine and he has somebarleythere. Goand setit on fire.”77So Absalom’sservantssetJoab’s78 portionof the field on fire.

14:33So Joabwenttothe kingand informedhim. The king80 summonedAbsalom, and he cametothe king. Absalom81bowed downbeforethe kingwith his facetoward the groundand the kingkissedhim.82

Absalom Leads an Insurrection against David

15:1Some timelaterAbsalommanaged to acquire83 a chariotand horses, as well as fiftymento serve as his royal guard.8415:2Now Absalomused to get up earlyand standbesidethe roadthat led to the city gate. Wheneveranyonecameby who hada complaintto bringtothe kingfor arbitration, Absalomwould callout tohim, “Whatcityare youfrom?” The person would answer, “I, your servant,85am from oneof the tribesof Israel.”15:3Absalomwould then saytohim, “Look, your claims are legitimateand appropriate.86But there is norepresentativeof the kingwho will listento you.”15:4Absalomwould then say, “If onlythey would makeme87 a judgein the land! Then everyonewhohada judicialcomplaint88could cometome and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”

15:10Then Absalomsentspiesthrough allthe tribesof Israelwho said, “When you hearthe soundof the horn, you may assume96 that Absalomrulesin Hebron.”15:11Now two hundredmenhad gone withAbsalomfrom Jerusalem. Since they were invited, they wentnaivelyand were unawareof what Absalom was planning.9715:12While he was offeringsacrifices, Absalomsentfor Ahithophelthe Gilonite, David’sadviser,98to comefrom his city, Giloh.99The conspiracywas gaining momentum, and the peoplewere starting to sidewithAbsalom.

15:25Then the kingsaidto Zadok, “Take thearkof Godback to the city. IfI findfavorin the Lord’ssighthe will bring me backand enable me to seeboth it and his dwellingplace again.15:26However, ifhe shouldsay, ‘Ido nottake pleasurein you,’ then he will deal with me in a way thathe considersappropriate.”127

15:30As Davidwas going upthe Mountof Olives, he was weepingas he went; his headwas coveredand his feet were bare. Allthe peoplewhowere withhim also had their headscoveredand were weepingas they wentup.15:31Now David131had been told, “Ahithophelhas sided with the conspiratorswho are withAbsalom. So Davidprayed,132 “Make the adviceof Ahithophelfoolish, O Lord!”